Higgins already eyeing a return to the Isle of Man

Scottish championship fight hots up on biggest event

Mark Higgins wants to return to the Isle of Man TT course to crack an average lap of 130mph – despite smashing his own record last week.

Driving a Prodrive-built Subaru WRX STI, the triple British Rally Champion posted a best time of 17m25.139s, an average speed of 128.730mph, but he’s sure a 130mph lap is possible.

“I see this as unfinished business,” said Higgins. “When we came here, we knew the car was going to be quicker than last time, but we didn’t really know how much quicker. We were dreaming about an average of 125mph and straight away we could go quicker than that.

“I came away from the island knowing there was more speed to come from the car and from me. I think there’s probably four or five seconds a lap I can find and, I’m sure we could get some more from the engine. I think more and more that an average speed of 130mph was possible.”

Higgins will drive the Prodrive car at this week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Garry Pearson ( below) will lead the Scottish Rally series hopefuls on the RSAC Scottish Rally, as the fight for the championship hots up.

Although Pearson drives an Ford Fiesta R5, the same spec as the BRC frontrunners, he’ll likely be struggling in the overall order because he will not have the advantage of a recce, as dictated by SRC rules. The BRC contenders will be allowed to write their own notes. Pearson – in his first year in full-time four-wheel drive competition – leads the standings by seven after winning the last round, the Speyside Stages. He’s chased closely by reigning champion Jock Armstrong (Subaru Impreza) and Mitsubishi Lancer E9 drivers Dale Robertson and Mark Mccullough. John Maccrone – also in a Fiesta R5 – is in good form. He would have challenged Pearson for the Speyside victory had it not been for a broken driveshaft.

Another Lancer expected to challenge is Mike Faulkner, last year’s runner-up. He hasn’t entered all the rounds this year, but was a consistent top five finisher and will be in the fight again in Dumfries.

Grant Inglis has a 24-point lead in the two-wheel-drive category, and with second man Dougal Brown absent from the entry list, it’s likely he’ll extend his lead. Fiesta R2 runner, Thomas Gray is Inglis’ closest rival on the event.